TAHUREAU (Jacques). Les Premieres poësies de Jaques Tahureau, dediées a monseigneur le reverendissime cardinal de Guyse. Poitiers, par les de Marnefz & Bouchetz, freres, 1554. - Sonnetz, Odes, et Mignardises amoureuses de l'Admirée. Ibid, 1554. 2 parts in one volume in-8, red jansenist morocco, green morocco lining decorated with a rich gilt foliage frame, green moire endpapers, double endpapers, gilt edges over marbling, edged slipcase (Lortic). Extremely rare first edition of the poetic works of Jacques Tahureau, a young poet from Le Mans, an emulator of Ronsard and a friend of Baïf, who died at the age of twenty-eight. This first edition is "of a rarity that has become legendary", writes Nicolas Ducimetière: complete copies of both parts can be counted on the fingers of one hand. According to Édouard Rahir, it is "infinitely rarer" than its reprint in Paris in 1574. Both parts of the work are printed in large italic type. The first, dedicated to Louis de Lorraine, Cardinal de Guise, contains odes and epigrams dedicated to the king, Queen Marguerite, several important court figures and various poets of the time, including Saint-Gelais, Baïf, La Péruse, Jodelle and others. It ends with a prose avis aux lecteurs and a sonnet by Baïf. The second part contains the complete Mignardises amoureuses. The Admirée to whom they are dedicated is said to be a demoiselle de Gennes, sister of the Francine celebrated by Baïf, according to a conjecture by Prosper Blanchemain. The introductory pieces contain a Greek epigram and a French sonnet by Baïf. Born in Le Mans, Jacques Tahureau (1527-1555) was a close friend of Baïf and the author of some remarkable galant poetry. Introduced to the court by Mellin de Saint-Gelais, he was distinguished by Queen Marguerite. "The poet did not yet occupy his rightful place. Although his first collection of epigrams bore the marked influence of Marot, Tahureau soon assimilated the Folastries and then the Odes. Of the many imitators of Ronsard at the time, he was one of the most original: Marcel Raymond ranked him "well above certain much better-known poets, above Jodelle, Magny and perhaps Baïf". Of his generation, he rejects indiscreet erudition, the abuse of Latinisms and, more generally, prolixity" (J.-P. de Beaumarchais, Dictionnaire des littératures de langue française). A very fine copy in a rich Lortic lined binding. It appeared in the Bulletin de la Librairie Morgand (Dec. 1903, n°45356). Slight mending to the title. Picot-Rothschild, n°702 - Brunet, V, 643 - Tchemerzine, I, 241 - Desgraves, Rep. XVIe s., V, 67, n°4 - USTC: 20677 - Ducimetière, Fleurons de la bibliothèque Barbier-Müller, n°47 (for an ex. bound as new by J.-L. Honnegger).